Pair This: Pinot Gris and Hummus

In addition to writing on this blog, I’m the Food and Wine Editor for Eugene Daily News where I write two columns: Wine Down Eugene and Local Lunch Gals. Wine Down Eugene is a weekly listing of all wine and beer related events happening in the South Willamette Valley at wineries, vineyards, restaurants, breweries, wine bars and wine shops along with local wine and beer festival information. Local Lunch Gals is a local food review group consisting of three high school friends who love food, wine and girl time: Maria, Jennifer and I.

The Lunch Gals meet on Fridays at various restaurants and street kitchens around Eugene and neighboring towns to eat, drink and be merry. Last Friday, we enjoyed a great lunch in the funky Whiteaker Neighborhood at Burgers on the Run –  a burger joint housed in an all-chrome mobile kitchen. After we had a three hour lunch of eating and drinking wine, we headed over to a local tavern named, Sam Bond’s Garage. Several reasons why we love Sam Bond’s is that they have great food, live music, outdoor seating in a totally relaxed atmosphere and they serve wine from one of our favorite South Willamette wineries, Territorial Vineyards and Wine Company.

While we were sitting on the back patio at Sam Bond’s enjoying live music and beautiful mid-September weather, we reveled in a delicious food and wine pairing of Hummus and warm pita bread with Territorial’s 2011 Pinot Gris.

Territorial Vineyards 2011 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris has gorgeous melon and honey crisp apple aromas, and on the palate, flavors match aromas with the addition of Meyer lemon and spice. Bright and full in the mouth, crisp and refreshing on the finish. The hummus at Sam Bond’s has a strong lemon flavor with hints of garlic, and of course, chickpeas. It’s thick and delicious and pairs perfectly with the bright and refreshing Pinot Gris – there wasn’t a crumb or drop of either left when we were finished.